Local Cable Access endangered

Local governments require cable operators (such as Comcast and Frontier) to set aside channels in their lineup for use by the public, educational institutions for educational programming, and by local governments for programming relevant to the jurisdictions they serve (PEG). The Metropolitan Area Communications Commission (MACC) is the cable regulatory agency that oversees these services as well as handling complaints about cable service and overseeing franchise negotiations.

This summer MACC's finance committee proposed a radical funding cut that would have eliminated most of the public access facilities and services and would have limited other uses. At the September 9 MACC meeting, the commission decided to table the issue because supporters of the service were not given enough notice to respond to the proposed cuts.

TVCTV is the organization that has provided public access facilities in the Tualatin Valley. They've been headquartered at the Beaverton School District's (BSD) Arts & Communication Magnet Academy, a facility that they have shared with the school. A ten-year free-rent agreement with BSD will expire in 2012 and the school intends to use the space for other purposes, meaning the TV station needs to find a new facility. Funds from Verizon as part of the cable provider's contract will run out in December and similar funding was not required from Frontier, the company who took over Verizon's franchise.

A final vote on the future of TVCTV will be held at a special meeting on Thursday, October 28 at 1:30 pm at the Village Baptist Church in Beaverton. More information can be found on the website saveTVCTV.org.

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